Trunk-catch



(N 0 Model.)

J. J. OOWEVLL.

TRUNK CATCH.

Patented Nov. 3, 1885.

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NITED STATES PATENT Fries.

JOHN J. COXVELL, OF NEVARK, NEW JERSEY.

TRUNK-CATCH.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 329,625, dated November 3, 1885.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN J. COWELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trunk-Catches; and I do here by declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The object of this inventionis to reduce the cost of construction of trunk-catches, and to facilitate their application to the trunk; and it consists in the arrangements and combinations of parts, substantially as will be hereinafter set fort-h, and finally be embodied in the clauses of the claim.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,in which like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each of the several figures, Figure l is a front elevation, and Fig.2 a back elevation, of my improved catch. Fig. 3 is asectional view taken through line X, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a front view of the trunk-cover plate, showing arnode of holding the hasp in disengagement. Fig. 5 illustrates in detail a mode of securing said plate to the valance of the trunk, the sectional portion of the figure being taken through line Y; and Fig. 6 illustrates a modification in the mode of securing the hasp to the body-plate.

In said drawings, a indicates a trunk-cover plate, and b the trunk-body plate of the catch, the former of which plates is provided with dowels c 0, adapted to enter suitable sockets, e 0, formed in the latter plate. The back of the plate a is recessed or chambered to receive a spring, 01, and a hasp, e, notches ff being provided at the opposite sides of the said plate to receive the extremities of the spring and prevent it from falling from its proper position. The platea is preferably perforated, near the top thereof, as at g, to receive the fulcrumal end of the hasp, and open, as at h, to allow a passage to the hasp, which latter, being fastened at its fulerumal end, extends through said passage or opening h, so that the free or operating end lies on the outside of the hooked intothe perforation g, or riveted upon the plate, as in Fig. 6, or otherwise secured. at the upper end thereof, where it has its fulcrumal bearings when lifting the said hasp from the holding-lugs j is. Near the middle or near the free end of the hasp the same is perforated or recessed to receive and provide bearings for said lugs and prevent the separation of the plates. The said free end is or may be rounded, and projects from the face of the plate b so as to allow the finger easy access thereto. By placing the recessed or perforated hasp over both of the lugs, teats, or

projections j k the two plates are held togetherwith great security, and the riveted or fulcrurnal portion of the hasp is relieved of all or a greater portion of the strain. The hasp may be twice perforated, as shown, or but one perforation, relatively larger in size, may be provided to receive both lugs. The plates being fastened together,to release the parts it is only necessary toraise the free end of the hasp and throw it to one side, resting it on the projecting lug j, which holds it away from the lower lug or projection, and allows the cover of the trunk to be raised. The spring d acts to hold the hasp into engagement with the holding-lugs, as will be apparent.

To hold the upper plate to the valance, (indicated at 0,) I may form a backwardly-extending cross-head or bar, m, upon the platea, or cross-bar t thereof, and in the said valance form a vertically or oppositely oblong hole, a. By turning the plate a and inserting the crosshead in said hole, then turning the plate back again into its proper relative position, and fastening said plate to the trunk above the valance, a perforation in the plate allowing a nail to pass through into the trunk-cover,said plate is held rigidly and firmly to the said cover, and the trouble and loss of time occasioned by riveting the plate to the valance is ally into holding engagement, may be other than the relative size. and shape shown, and

it may be transposed to the opposite platev without departing from the spirit of this in vention; and, furthermore, other transpositions of parts-as, for example, in the dowels and sockets, and in the plates upon the trunk,

or by the arrangement of the hasp-may be made without affecting the invention; and it is therefore evident that I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact'construction shown.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new is 1. In combination,in a trunk-catch, aplat-e, a, having a lug formed thereon, and a hasp secured thereto, said hasp being recessed and perforated at its free end, and a plate, b, having a teat, 70, said parts being arranged and operating substantially as and for the purposes set forth. v

2. In combination, a plate, a, having a passage or opening, 71, and a cross-bar andspring, and having a perforated or recessed hasp secured on the back side of said plate, and extending through said opening and over said cross-bar to the front of said plate,and thereat providing a finger-piece to enable the operator to lift or raise said lever from a holdinglug on the opposite plate, b, said plate b provided with said holdinglug, the parts being arranged and adapted to operate substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In combination, in a trunk-catch, a plate, a, having a lug, j, a hasp secured to said plate and extending therefrom to enter holding engagement with a co-operating plate,and adapted to be raised to rest on said lug to hold the hasp open or in a disengaged position,and said co-operating plate 12 to engage saidhasp,

all substantially as and for the puposes set forth.

4. The improved trunk-catch cover-plate a, having a catch to engage the trunk-body plate, a cross-head to enter and be held in a verticallyoblong slot of the trunk-valance,and a perforation whereby said plate may be nailed to the trunk, substantiallyas shown and described.

5. In combination, the plate or, having perforation 9, opening h, cross-bar z, and notches f,,-the hooked and recessed hasp, a spring, d, and a plate, 11, having a lug, k, to engage the recessed hasp, substantially as set forth- In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 17th day of Novem ber, 1884.

JOHN J. COWELL.

\Vitnesses:

FREDK. F. CAMPBELL, CHARLES H. PELL. 

